Warrior volleyball raises over $5,000 for Dana-Farber

Published October 25, 2019

By DAN PAWLOWSKI

WAKEFIELD — Standing in front of a full house at the Charbonneau Field House on Monday night, a microphone in hand and tasked with somehow expressing what all this means after the loss of her mother, Rachel McNall, a senior on the Warrior volleyball team, stood tall.

Despite the typical feeling of isolation that comes with public speaking, McNall was not alone. Standing with her was one of her best friends and teammates, Maddie Melanson. To her right, a team full of coaches and players who are always there for her, and in the crowd, from the packed student section to a sea of purple and gold “Team McNall” t-shirts throughout the gym were friends and family – all of whom wouldn’t dream of being anywhere else on this night.

THE ENTIRE Wakefield Memorial High School volleyball program worked together to create a successful fundraiser game on Monday in memory of Jennifer McNall. The Warriors raised over $5,000 for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)

“I just wanted to start by thanking everyone for coming out tonight and thanking my team and my parents, my coaches, friends and family for making this possible,” said Rachel McNall. “This game means so much to me and my family. My Mom, Jen, unfortunately passed away late this August after a four year battle with cancer.

“I think most of you know her for her contagious laugh, her strength and her positive attitude no matter the circumstances. I know how happy she is looking down on us playing this game. This game is for her, all the other survivors, people who have passed and people still fighting their battle. All proceeds of today will be donated to Dana-Farber in hopes of helping find a cure. Today, I hope we can make a difference and put an end to this disease. Thank you.”

With that followed a round of applause at the field house that would rival any decibel level of the past.

“It was powerful to be in the gym on Monday night,” said Wakefield volleyball head coach Sasha Duprey.

In honor of Jennifer McNall, a Wakefield native and 1986 graduate of Wakefield High School, the volleyball program raised over $5,000 for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

THE McNALL FAMILY

“On behalf of the McNall and Dumont Family, we would like to thank everyone for their continuous support over the past couple of months,” said Kristine Collins, Jennifer’s sister and former athletics assistant at WMHS. “It has helped our families grieve an unimaginable loss. An enormous shoutout to Kenny, Jen’s husband, her son Sean, and her daughter Rachel, who spoke before the game. Rachel was poised, courageous and brave something that I know her mom would be so proud of. We love you!”

One look at the crowd, the raffles, donations, prizes and decorations, and it was clear this special night was a group effort.

“I first had the conversation with our three captains (Melanson, Katie Pearl and Jordyn Pugsley) and they loved the idea, so then I brought it up to Rachel,” said Duprey. “I remember the moment vividly, she lit up as she said how much she liked the idea. Everyone in the program quickly rallied and worked to make sure the match and night was a success. I honestly didn’t think it would go as well as it did; it far surpassed my and Rachel’s expectations.

“To me and the program, hosting the game in honor of Rachel’s mom was so important because it gave us a tangible way to show Rachel and her whole family how much we care about her and what they were and are going through. When anyone in our program goes through something, especially to this degree, we think it’s really important to show up for them and in doing so, it gave the whole community a chance to show up.”

Show up, they did.

“It’s kind of crazy to see that even with a small donation how many people are still willing to come out and contribute,” said Rachel. “Both my mom’s side and my dad’s side did so much for today.”

RACHEL McNALL leads the Warriors onto the court. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)

McNall was appreciative but not surprised to see the effort from her classmates and friends like Melanson, Pearl, Pugsley, Abbie Coughlin, Maddie Burke and Clara Butler. It was the work from those teammates she wasn’t too familiar with that really brought the team together.

“All the underclassmen and the effort they put into it even when I haven’t gotten a chance to get to know all of them was really nice,” said Rachel. “Volleyball has always been an outlet for me. With everything going on, knowing I have this much support when I come here is a great thing to have.”

Even knowing what Jennifer McNall meant to so many in Wakefield, her family was still overwhelmed with the outpour of support from the Warrior community.

“When the WMHS volleyball team reached out to us and informed us they would be hosting a Dana-Farber volleyball fundraiser in memory of Jen we were blown away,” said Collins. “The turnout Monday night was just awesome. It once again showed us how much the people in this town cared for not only us, but anyone battling this horrible disease. It was a wonderful tribute to an incredible person who we called our sister, wife, mother, daughter, friend and aunt.

The Warriors went on to play a spirited game against one of the best teams in the Middlesex League.

Wakefield came out strong in set one in front of a rocking Red Sea. The Warriors held leads of 8-6 and 15-12 behind the hitting of Melanson and Kelsey Manchester. Melrose closed strong for a win.

Wakefield overcame a slow start in the second. Melanson and Coughlin were tough in the middle to deny some set-winning hits and Wakefield came back but fell short.

The Warriors stormed out in the third to a 10-6 lead behind two service points from Manchester and more kills from Melanson. Clara Butler put together a nice service run but Melrose again finished strong for the win.

The game itself was never going to be the story of this night.

It was first about coming together in memory of Jen McNall, someone who is dearly missed. Second, about being there for the McNall and Dumont families, and third about raising funds for the most important cause there is.

In that way, Rachel McNall and her family, no doubt using Jen’s positive attitude, chose to make this night a successful celebration.

“If there is one thing that I’ve learned about Rachel through all of this, it is that she never fails to find the joy in life no matter what she is faced with,” said Katie Pearl. “On and off the court, she always seems to find the light in every situation. Not only is she a great player, but she works hard, never gives up, and has consistently been someone that inspires our whole team every single day. She played this season for more than just a winning record, and I know that her mom is more than proud of the player but more importantly the person that Rachel is to all of us.”

“We can not thank everyone enough for their donations and support,” said Collins on behalf of the McNall and Dumont families. “From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you.”